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About this project

Although Canada has its share of first-rate newspapers and hyper-local blogs, we feel there's something missing in our media landscape. Where's the national website that takes an eccentric yet considered approach to the day's activities? Where's the publication that provides quick links to quality articles and videos around the web, while also producing original essays and criticism? Where's Canada's version of The Dish, Daily Intel, Gawker, The Awl or Business Insider?

Maclean's is great, but it's certainly not this.

At Ballast, we'll publish stories — both
long and short, timely and untimely — throughout the day from Monday to
Friday, since we believe other times should be for other things. We'll cover culture, technology, crime, media, politics,
science, sports, money and, on very rare occasions, perhaps even celebrities. Basically, we're interested in the events and ideas that make Canada what it is.

Who Are We?

Ballast will be edited by Paul Hiebert, who was born in Winnipeg and studied the craft of journalism in New York City, where he worked and wrote for various online news organizations.

And Jonathan Hall, who was born in Vancouver, studied philosophy and history at Simon Fraser University and has spent a significant amount of time in places such as Indonesia, Germany, Korea and Calgary.

Our multiple contributors have written for publications such as The Globe and Mail, The Walrus, TheCBC, Maclean's, The National Post, The Montreal Gazette, Adbusters, Maisonneuve and Exclaim!, and American outlets such as The New York Times, The Awl, Slate, Salon, TheParis Review Daily and Thought Catalog.

Why Do We Need The Money?

For web hosting, designers, programmers and the time it takes to launch a new website as wonderful as we expect Ballast will be. Plus, since we want this to last, the time needed to secure future revenue through advertisers, sponsors, investors and so on.

What Does A Hand-Knit Bearded Toque Look Like?

Another Thing:

Although Ballast is a Canadian company, this fundraiser site, Kickstarter, is American and all pledge amounts are in U.S. dollars. In short: if paying with a Canadian credit card, there will be an exchange rate.

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